دانلود رایگان ترجمه مقاله جنسيت و وضعيت سلامت علائم اسکلتی عضلانی در طول استفاده از تبلت (نشریه J-Stage 2018)

جنسيت و وضعيت سلامت علائم اسکلتی عضلانی به عنوان عوامل ریسک در طول استفاده از رایانه تبلت صفحه لمسی

Gender and posture are significant risk factors to musculoskeletal symptoms during touchscreen tablet computer use

Abstract

[Purpose] To investigate the prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms during the use of tablet computer, and to identify the risk factors associated with these symptoms. [Subjects and Methods] A cross-sectional survey was conducted to study tablet computer usage, posture during use, and neck and shoulder symptoms in 412 participants in a school setting. Significant risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms during tablet computer use were identified. [Results] Overall prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms during tablet computer use was 67.9% with greater prevalence of neck symptoms (neck: 84.6%; shoulder/upper extremity: 65.4%). Significant risk factors associated with symptoms during use were: current musculoskeletal symptoms, gender, roles, and postural factors including: sitting without back support, sitting with device in lap, and lying on the side and on the back during tablet computer use. A multivariate analysis further showed that the odds for females to have symptoms were 2.059 times higher than males. [Conclusion] The findings revealed that female gender and other postural factors were significantly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms during the use of tablet computer. Among all postural factors, sitting without back support was identified as the most important risk factor for having musculoskeletal symptoms.

1 Introduction

Neck and shoulder musculoskeletal symptoms are common health complaints. A recent epidemiologic study by Hoy et al. demonstrated that the annual incidence rate of neck pain to be 10.4–21.3% with a higher rate for office and computer workers1) . In the college student population, a one-year prospective cohort study demonstrated a high incidence rate at 46% and of whom 33% reported persistent neck pain2) . Such high prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms, especially among the younger populations, presents a substantial burden to the society. Musculoskeletal symptoms of the neck and shoulder are theorized to have a multi-factorial origin including physical and demographic contributors2–5) . Current evidence suggests that significant risk factors include female gender1, 2, 6) , having high job demands7) , and having a history of spinal disorders8) . Noticeably, some physical factors are associated with neck pain, including prolonged computer work for students9–11) and prolonged sitting and neck flexion for office workers12) . A systematic review regarding individuals with documented musculoskeletal disorders showed an association between computer use and tension neck syndrome13) . It is logical that posture and workplace ergonomics are related to the development of neck and shoulder symptoms. For example, Marcus et al. found that keying with a more extended elbow, proper head tilt, and use of arm rests could reduce the risk of developing neck and shoulder disorders14) . Since computer use often involves maintaining the same posture for prolonged periods of time, the muscles of the neck and shoulder may become overworked. Several studies have documented a relationship between trapezius muscle load and the development of musculoskeletal discomfort in the upper body15, 16) . In recent years, the use of touchscreen tablet computers has increased dramatically. According to the report from the International Data Corporation in 2013, tablet computers account for 14.6% of all connected-device market, and the growth rate of these devices was expected to be the highest over the next few years17) . Findings from an industrial survey in 2013 in the U.S. showed that 43% of the population owns a tablet computer or e-book reader18) . The ownership and usage of such devices are perhaps even higher among the student population19) . Despite the increased popularity of the tablet computers, the device is new enough that only few studies have investigated the association between its usage and musculoskeletal disorders. A recent study in a university population showed significant associations between the total time spent using a mobile phone and pain in the neck and shoulder regions20) . Ergonomic studies have suggested that the use of mobile electronic devices such as laptop computers exhibits the tendency to lead to even poorer head and neck posture than desktop computers21) . With mobile devices, one’s posture often depends on the available supporting surfaces and environments (e.g. holding a device in hand while sitting in a chair). Prolonged cervical flexion is commonly observed when the tablet computer is placed flat on a desk or when held in a position below eye level. This may cause the cervical extensor muscles to lengthened and put a larger load on these muscles22) . It is logical that the postures users assume when using tablet computers can have implications for developing neck and shoulder symptoms. The purposes of the current study was to 1) investigate the prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms during use of tablet computers, and 2) identify the risk factors associated with the symptoms during device use.